Staff photo by Travis Rosenau The New Ulm Club Athletic Appreciation Banquet was held Saturday at Martin Luther College, naming the 2025-2026 Male and Female Outstanding Senior Athletes of the Year from the three New Ulm high schools. Pictured are the winners from each school. Front row (l-r): Emily Brown (MVL), Shay Wilfahrt (Cathedral), Brooklyn Lewis (New Ulm). Back row (l-r): Connor Bode (MVL), Elijah Rieser (Cathedral), Zach Hubbard (New Ulm).

NEW ULM — The 72nd annual New Ulm Club Athletic Appreciation Banquet took place Saturday at Martin Luther College, with six senior athletes from the three New Ulm high schools being selected as the 2025-2026 Male and Female Outstanding Senior Athletes of the Year.

Each school had one male and one female athlete letter winner named their school’s Outstanding Senior Athlete of the Year. New Ulm High School’s selections were Zach Hubbard and Brooklyn Lewis, while Minnesota Valley Lutheran’s were Connor Bode and Emily Brown and New Ulm Cathedral’s were Elijah Rieser and Shay Wilfahrt.

At the conclusion of the banquet meal, guest speaker Ross Bernstein spoke about turning negatives into positives. He said after his dream of being a Minnesota Golden Gophers men’s hockey player ended, he was offered a spot as the team mascot, Goldy Gopher, something he accepted and ran with.

Bernstein ended up writing a book about the experience titled “Gopher Hockey by the Hockey Gopher,” later turning that into a successful career as a best-selling author and speaker. He encouraged those in attendance to lean into their failures and turn them into a comeback.

Below are the bios for all Outstanding Male and Female Athletes of the Year, provided by the three New Ulm school’s Activities Directors: Adam Neubarth (New Ulm), Craig Morgan (MVL) and Alan Woitas (Cathedral).

Zach Hubbard

2026 Male Senior Athlete

New Ulm High School’s Outstanding Senior Male Athlete of the Year is Zach Hubbard. Zach is the son of Michael and Jenny Hubbard. Zach is a three-sport athlete who has participated in Football, Basketball, and Baseball. During his high school career, Zach has lettered three times in all three sports, a combined nine letters. A fourth letter is likely to be issued at the conclusion of the baseball season.

In the fall, he can be found on the gridiron playing wide receiver and defensive back for the Eagles. He has explosive play-making ability and a natural instinct for finding the football. Zach has speed, awareness, and was a reliable target for four different quarterbacks during his high school career. He even played a little quarterback himself. Outside of his playmaking ability, he is unselfish, taking pride in blocking downfield for his teammates. During Zach’s football career, he was a three-time letter winner, earned two Southeast Red All District honors, and earned 1 Southeast Red District Wide Receiver of the Year award. He is also a 2x All Journal Offensive Team member. Zach was a two-way starter during his Junior and Senior seasons. During Zach’s career, he accounted for nearly 2000 total offensive yards, scored 21 touchdowns, and tracked down 6 interceptions. During his short stint at QB, Zach was 11-20 for 123 yards.

Eagles head football coach Derek Lieser said, “Zach was a tremendous student-athlete and ambassador for our football program over the past three seasons. Zach contributed as a starter at Wide Receiver as a sophomore and played both sides of the ball as a junior and senior. He was a major factor in our offensive and defensive schemes. Zach’s toughness was evident, as he never missed a game over his career. Zach’s calm, collected, and confident demeanor will be missed in our program.”

During the winter, you can find Zach in the gym playing basketball. Zach Hubbard is a three-time letter winner. Always maintaining his calm presence on the court, Zach was a key contributor during the 2023-2024 season, where the Eagles finished second in Section 2AAA. Zach can control the basketball, knock down perimeter shots, and has great court vision to get the ball to his teammates. On the defensive end, Zach is disciplined, tough, and committed to doing the little things like rebounding, fighting through screens, and hustling after loose balls. During Zach’s career, he scored 529 points, had 87 steals and 302 rebounds.

Eagles head basketball coach Michael Poncelet said, “Zach should be the standard bearer for what student athletes should strive to be. He competes hard every night. He always puts his best foot forward in every endeavor, demonstrating it on the court and in the classroom. Zach is a tremendous example for younger athletes, a great teammate, and a pleasure to coach. His consistency, discipline, and unselfish approach to the game set him apart as not only a leader in competition but also as a role model within the program. Zach’s willingness to support his teammates, accept coaching, and continuously work to improve reflects a level of maturity and commitment that embodies the true spirit of a student-athlete.”

In the spring, Zach can be found on the baseball diamond. During his time at New Ulm High School, he has earned three letters in baseball with a fourth likely at the conclusion of the spring season. Zach has been a four-year starter for the Eagles. He earned one Big South All-Conference award, and last season was a member of the All-Journal Team. Playing in the outfield, demonstrating his speed on the base path, or staying poised in the batter’s box, Zach has been a major factor in New Ulm’s growth over the past few seasons. Last season, Zach had a batting average of .450 with 76 hits and six triples.

Eagles head baseball coach Jeff Ferrell said, “Zach has been a model of consistency and reliability for the Eagles. He is steady on defense, has strong situational awareness, and the willingness to do whatever the team needs to be successful. Zach’s impacts go beyond statistics; his quiet leadership has helped shape our program, and he is an excellent example of the type of athlete all young baseball players should look up to.”

Next year, he will attend Minnesota State University in Mankato. Zach will be remembered for his stoic demeanor during competition. His emotions are never too high and never too low. Zach attributes much of his success to the coaches and teammates he had during his high school career. He is a true class act. Zach demonstrates high character traits, high academic achievement, and is a very talented three-sport athlete.

Brooklyn Lewis

2026 Female Senior Athlete

New Ulm High School’s Outstanding Senior Female Athlete of the Year is Brooklyn Lewis. She is the daughter of Mitch and Maria Lewis, both former New Ulm Club Athletes of the Year. Brooklyn Lewis is a two-sport athlete who has participated in Volleyball and Basketball. Throughout her high school career, she earned three letters in Volleyball, six letters in Basketball, and three letters in Softball. Altogether, Brooklyn earned 12 varsity letters during her time at New Ulm High School.

Each fall, Brooklyn Lewis can be found on the court competing in volleyball. She has been a member of the varsity team for three years and was a starter for her junior and senior seasons. During that time, Brooklyn accumulated 35 Aces, 253 kills, and 451 digs. Brooklyn demonstrated toughness on defense. She was able to step up with confidence in high-pressure situations. Although team victories were elusive at times, she was always willing to try her best in practice and in games. She lettered three times and earned one Big South All-Conference Honorable Mention award as an outside hitter for the Eagles.

Eagles head volleyball coach Christine Skoglund said, “What makes Brooklyn’s impact so special goes far beyond statistics or wins and losses. She made her teammates better. She encouraged them when things were tough, celebrated their successes, and pushed them to reach a higher level. She led by example, showing what it looks like to compete with intensity while still playing with passion and love for the game. Her presence on the court gave the team confidence. In big moments, you could count on her to step up, stay composed, and do whatever the team needed. Programs do not grow solely because of talent. They grow because of people who are willing to invest in something bigger than themselves. Brooklyn did exactly that.”

After the volleyball season, Brooklyn Lewis can be found playing basketball, her true passion. Throughout Brooklyn’s six years with the Eagles, she recorded an impressive 2077 points, 486 rebounds, 522 assists, and 460 steals. This past season alone, she averaged 25.6 points per game, made 81% of her free throws, and shot 40% from behind the three-point arc. Brooklyn’s career earns her the No. 3 spot on the All-City scorer list for New Ulm and No. 2 all-time female scorer on that list, making her one of the best basketball players New Ulm High School has ever had.

She earned five Big South All-Conference awards, two All-State Honorable Mentions, five All-Journal Basketball awards, was a 2025-2026 Miss Basketball Nominee, was voted into the Minnesota All-Star Basketball Game, and she is the current single-game points record holder at New Ulm High School with 43 points.

Mitch Lewis, who was the Eagles head girls basketball coach this past season, said, “Brooklyn Lewis is a remarkable athlete who has truly exemplified dedication, sportsmanship, and excellence not only this year but throughout her high school career. Throughout the season, Brooklyn has consistently demonstrated hard work, perseverance, and a commitment to the team. Her dedication to improving her skills and pushing her limits has set a high standard for all of us. Brooklyn’s hard work and passion for the game have truly paid off. Watching Brooklyn grow both as an athlete and as a person has been one of the greatest privileges of my life. I am so proud of you and all that you have achieved.”

Brooklyn Lewis has grown into a player who remains composed under pressure, leading her team with a calm and steady presence. Her ability to manage her emotions and stay focused, even in the most challenging moments, has been a key factor in her success and the team’s success. This growth has not only elevated her performance but has also inspired her teammates to remain focused and united. Brooklyn’s journey is a testament to her resilience and self-improvement.

Brooklyn Lewis was also a member of the Eagles softball program but decided to focus on basketball in the spring. Although Brooklyn’s softball career did not make it all the way to the end of her senior year, it is worth noting that she did receive three letters in the spring. She also earned one Big South All-Conference Honorable Mention during her time with the Eagles.

Next year, she will attend Minnesota State University in Mankato, to continue her academic and athletic career. Brooklyn is undecided in her area of study, but will play Basketball for the Mavericks. New Ulm High School knows Brooklyn will find success in whatever she sets her mind to. As Brooklyn reflects on her High School athletic career, she comments on the positive relationships she has built with all of her teammates, past and present. She commented and thanked all of her teachers, coaches, and teammates for the support they have provided throughout her time at New Ulm High School.

Connor Bode

2026 Male Senior Athlete

Minnesota Valley Lutheran High School’s Outstanding Senior Male Athlete of the Year is Connor Bode. Connor Bode is the son of Bryan and Christy Bode. Connor Bode is a three-sport student-athlete who has participated in football, basketball and baseball all four years at MVL.

All be it that an injury took Connor’s senior year of football away, the impact he made in his time was definitely lasting for Chargers Football. He was a two-year letter winner.

Connor Bode finished his career with three 100-yard games in his junior season, rushing 116 attempts for 654 yards with three TD and a 2-point conversion. Defensively, he contributed 36 tackles with an interception. There is no doubt those totals would have risen considerably in his senior year.

MVL head football coach Jim Buboltz said, “Connor leads by example with his dedicated work ethic. He was an excellent teammate and even spent time on the headsets this past year, looking at things from a coaching perspective. Connor is very respected by his teammates and tried to leave by example, even while injured and frustrated that he wasn’t on the field with them. Connor has a bright future and was a true leader for MVL Football.”

The past three years Connor Bode competed on the varsity basketball team, cutting his teeth at the point guard position with over 60 steals and 145 assists and averaging 6.9 points per game. What doesn’t show up in the stats are heart, determination, and just plain joy to compete with with he competed.

MVL head boys basketball coach Kory Kettner said, “Connor’s value goes much deeper than stats. His effort and leadership were always on display in the weight room, practices, and games. Always giving 100% and competing at the highest level. His competitiveness and toughness have been shown through more than ever after tearing his ACL last spring and having surgery in May and playing in our second game of the season this year. Less than eight months after having surgery. The greatest compliment an athlete can get is being called a ‘competitor’… Connor Bode is a competitor.”

Connor Bode has been a four-year varsity baseball player who as has played 46 games so far in his career. Prior to a season-ending injury last spring, he was hitting .474 and amassed 12 stolen bases in just seven games. He is off to a similar start this spring, batting .357 with 8 stolen bases through five games. Despite missing two-thirds of a season due to the injury, He is on pace to finish in the top 5 in school history in runs scored, walks, and stolen bases, which is a record he has a good shot at breaking this season. His speed and tenacity make him an extremely difficult out in the batting order, hitting 0.309 during his career.

MVL head baseball coach Micah Degner remarks on Connor Bode’s four-year contribution to MVL Baseball, saying, “Connor just flat out competes on the baseball field. His ability to put pressure on a defense with his speed and bat-to-ball skills produces a lot of runs. That and his sure-handed defense on the infield will surely be missed next year. Connor’s competitiveness on the field is easily matched by his ability to keep things lighthearted and always make the game fun. He is a pleasure to coach and has left his mark on MVL baseball.”

Next year, Connor will attend Minnesota State University-Mankato and study aviation. Minnesota Valley Lutheran High School is proud to have Connor Bode as our male senior athlete of the year.

Emily Brown

2026 Female Senior Athlete

Minnesota Valley Lutheran High School’s Outstanding Senior Female Athlete of the Year is Emily Brown. She is the daughter of Chad and Amber Brown. Emily Brown started her high school career participating in volleyball, basketball, and track. Then as the years rolled by, her interests changed, heading into her junior year, her concentrating on more running sports like cross-country and track.

The past two falls, Emily Brown not only ran cross-country, but she has emerged as a leader right from the beginning by her words and actions, so much so that her teammates named her captain both her junior and senior years, while earning Academic All-Conference honors both years as well.

MVL head cross-country coach Nicole Lehman reflected back on Emily’s short time in cross-country.

“Grit and perseverance aren’t easy to teach, except by example, and Emily was so good at coming to practice every single day, ready to work,” Lehman said. “Even if it meant running with terrible shin splints, she gave every practice her all. As a captain, Emily did a great job of leading by example in practice and the weight room while being a supportive and encouraging teammate. She made sure everyone was celebrated after a workout or race, even if she wasn’t feeling like she had a good practice or race herself. She was a wonderful role model for what a young Christian woman looks like. Congratulations, Emily, on receiving this well-earned award.”

MVL/NUC head track and field coach Rollin Timm said, “Emily has been a vital member of the track team throughout her high school career. She exemplifies what it means to be a servant-leader. She will do whatever we ask of her in a meet, as she has participated in events from 100-meter high hurdles — yes, she can get over the highs in a single bound — to 3,200 meters, from triple jump to pole vault. When she isn’t competing, she is encouraging her teammates, helping her coaches get things out or put away, and picking up whatever may be left behind at the end of a meet or practice.”

Her specialty has been the 300 hurdles, where she has qualified for the section meet in both her sophomore and junior seasons. She placed sixth her sophomore year and fifth last year with a PR of 50.35 seconds. If she stays injury-free, she will be able to get under 50 seconds this year.

This two-time captain and two-time academic all-conference honoree was first on our team in the 400-meter dash with a 67.92, she ran a 17.15 in the 100 M high hurdles for second best on the team and PR’d in the pole vault with 7 feet last season. The versatile young lady has also triple jumped, run the 3,200-meter race, and participated in numerous relays throughout her career.

Next year, she will attend Southwest Minnesota State University on a full-ride scholarship as one of the President’s Regional Scholars Award Program and study exercise science.

Elijah Rieser

2026 Male Senior Athlete

Cathedral High School’s Outstanding Senior Male Athlete for 2026 is Elijah Rieser. Elijah is the son of John & Jamie Rieser. Elijah is a two-sport athlete who will earn nine letters during his high school career: six in wrestling and three in baseball.

Elijah was a six-year letter winner in wrestling. He was a wrestling team captain his junior and senior year. Elijah has been a big part of New Ulm Area’s wrestling programs success over the past six years. His career totals include 179 wins, 25 pins, 521 takedowns, 383 near fall points, 197 escapes and 53 reversals. Elijah earned all-conference honors his sophomore, junior and senior season.

New Ulm Area head wrestling coach Kevin Briggs had the following to share about Elijah.

“Elijah Rieser is very deserving of the Athlete of the year award as he positively represented wrestling for the past six seasons,” Briggs said. “Not too many multiple sport wrestling athletes would pick wrestling as their favorite, but Elijah did. His year round dedication and commitment to the sport led to an outstanding career. In his senior season alone, his god given talents developed further into an individual state qualifier, who earned all state honors with his fourth-place finish, to go along with his KNUJ and All-Journal Wrestler of the Year accolades, and team MVP award. For the team Elijah came up clutch time and time again to help take out quality opponents to allow the team keep advancing all the way to the state finals. Elijah is a great example of how seniors seem to find a way. You don’t replace athletes like Elijah, but instead hope the underclassmen strive to reach the standard he left. His leadership and willingness to bump around the lineup will be missed next year. I believe Elijah is an outstanding young man and is an excellent example of what we want our athletes to be. Congratulations Elijah on this outstanding achievement as the Cathedral High School Athlete of the Year.”

This spring Elijah Rieser will be playing his third baseball season at the varsity level. For his career, he is a .324 hitter with 19 RBI’s, 25 runs scored and .400 OBP. Elijah has helped the baseball team post a 44-9 record the last two years and was a big part in the team placing second in the class a state baseball tournament last year. He earned all conference honorable mention honors his junior season. He already has some impressive career numbers and will continue to add to those this spring.

His baseball coach, Alan Woitas, had the following to share about Elijah Rieser.

“Coaching Elijah in baseball has been an absolute privilege,” Woitas said. “His dedication, relentless work ethic, and team-first mentality set him apart as a true leader on and off the field. This award is a well-earned recognition of his commitment and passion for the game. Elijah is willing to do whatever you ask of him and is more driven by team success than personal accolades. Congratulations, Elijah on this well-deserved recognition.”

Shay Wilfahrt

2026 Female Senior Athlete

Cathedral High School’s Outstanding Senior Female Athlete for 2026 is Shay Wilfahrt. She is the daughter of Dave and Becky Wilfahrt. Shay Wilfahrt is a three-sport athlete who will earn 11 letters during her high school career: three in volleyball, five in basketball, and three in softball.

She was a three-year letter winner in volleyball. She was also a volleyball team co-captain as a junior and senior. She has been a big part of the volleyball program’s success over the past three years. Her career totals include 77 ace serves, 1,067 kills (2nd in school history), 104.5 blocks, 834 digs (5th in school history), and a 88.5 serving percentage. She earned all conference honors as a sophomore, junior, and senior. Shay was also named the All-Journal Player of the Year her senior season along with earning All-State recognition.

Greyhounds head volleyball coach Becky Wilfahrt had this to say about Shay.

“Shay Wilfahrt is incredibly deserving of this award, not only for what she accomplished this season, but for the consistency, passion and work ethic she has demonstrated throughout her entire career,” Becky Wilfahrt said. “I have had the unique opportunity to coach Shay for the past three years at the high school level, as well as during her earlier years, and I have watched her grow into an exceptional athlete and leader. Her commitment to improvement is unmatched; she has spent countless hours in the offseason playing club volleyball, lifting, and getting into the gym on her own to refine her skills. Beyond her own development, Shay has given back to our program by helping with youth camps and assisting with our JO teams, setting a powerful example for younger players about what it means to lead and invest in something bigger than yourself.

On the court, Shay Wilfahrt’s accomplishments speak for themselves. She set the school record for kills in a single season and became just the second player in program history to reach 1,000 career kills — achieving that milestone in record time. Coaching your own child comes with its challenges, but it has also been one of the most rewarding experiences of my career. I held Shay to the highest standards, and she consistently rose to meet, and exceed, those expectations. She set ambitious goals for herself and showed relentless determination in achieving them, never backing down from the work required. While her impact on our program will be deeply missed, I am incredibly proud of the athlete and person she has become and look forward to watching her continue to succeed at the next level.”

Shay was a five-year letter winner in basketball. She was also a basketball team co-captain as a senior. Shay’s career totals include 1,326 points (second in school history), 1,156 rebounds (most in school history), 221 steals, 257 assists, and 123 blocked shots. Shay was selected to the all-conference team her junior and senior year.

Her basketball coach Dave Wilfahrt said, “It has been an absolute privilege to coach Shay for the last six years. Coaching your own daughter is a very delicate dynamic. It requires a deep understanding of the game, immense patience, and figuring out how to coach a player who already knows exactly how to tune you out. I am proud to say we successfully survived the experience. Shay brought a ‘refuse to lose,’ spitfire competitiveness to the floor every single night. Her impact this season was undeniable. She led the offense with 356 points, averaging 13.2 per game. She pulled down 228 rebounds, proving she is incredibly skilled at cleaning up missed shots.

“She filled up the rest of the stat sheet by recording 61 assists, 48 steals, and 23 blocks.

She also relentlessly attacked the basket, earning 120 trips to the free-throw line–a stat I am fairly certain is responsible for half of my remaining grey hairs.

When you add those numbers to her career totals of 1,326 points and an incredible 1,156 rebounds — making her the number one all-time rebounder in New Ulm history — you have a player who has quite literally left her mark on Cathedral basketball.

I could not be more proud of the athlete she is, the work ethic she displays, and the leader she has become. I am incredibly excited to hand my clipboard over to the volleyball staff at UW-River Falls this fall and enjoy watching her compete at the next level as just ‘Dad.’

Congratulations, Shay, on being named the NU Club Athlete of the Year. You have earned every bit of it.”

This spring Shay Wilfahrt is playing her third softball season at the varsity level. She has filled a variety of roles for the softball team the last few years and will be a starting outfielder this year for the Greyhounds. She also hit a home run earlier this year against Cleveland in the season opener.

Her softball coach Jamie Kuehn had the following to share about Shay, “Shay is the ultimate team player. While she was not named a starter until her senior year, she never let that impact her cheering for her teammates and working hard in practice. While she is starting in right field this year, Shay is also the backup for multiple positions; her willingness to put time into learning those skills as well as the skills for her own position is commendable. Shay is a perfect example for younger players to look up to and hopefully her determination to succeed is carried forward by the players coming after her. Cathedral High School will feel the absence of Shay’s God-given talents and spirited presence next year.”